Old Kingdom Pyramid of Egyptian Pharaoh Khafre at Giza built circa 2540 BC.

About this creation

This MOC represents the pyramid of Khafre, son of Khufu, a 4th Dynasty Pharaoh of Egypt's Old Kingdom who ruled from 2558 BC to about 2532 BC. I chose this second of the three pyramids of Giza since the remaining outer casing stones make for a more interesting exterior. In addition, the interior of Khufu's Great Pyramid is too complicated to replicate in minifig scale given the limited number of tan bricks that I own. The Pyramid model includes a cutaway section so you can see the interior with the upper descending passage, part of the lower passage, the final horizontal passage way, and burial chamber. The pyramid measures 82 studs per side (it should be much larger for true minifig scale). The real pyramid measures 215 meters (705 feet) per side and was originally 143 meters (471 feet) high although the current height is 136 meters (447 feet).

View from in front of the ruins of the mortuary temple on east side of the pyramid. Here in ancient times, Egyptian priests made offerings to the pharaoh for many centuries.

The pyramid's capstone is missing. The remains of the mortuary temple show the layout including the columned sun court.

The interior of the pyramid near the upper entrance. I would like to think that the first several tomb robbers met a gruesome end. One of the would be treasure hunters had triggered a portcullis stone and was crushed. The lower passage in the model is incomplete; the real one leads through the bedrock to another chamber and a sealed entrance outside the pyramid enclosure.

In the early 1800s, intrepid explorers from Europe were busy uncovering tombs and temples all over Egypt. The entrance to Khafre's tomb remained a mystery until then.

Giovanni Belzoni and assistant discovered the upper entrance to the tomb on March 2, 1818.

The pivoting entrance stone was inspired by a diagram in the somewhat disreputable book "Mysteries of the Great Pyramids".

What discovery awaits the adventurers? In reality, Belzoni found that others had preceeded him in ancient times and the tomb was empty. Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, would have been disappointed!

In the Hollywood movie version, Belzoni would have disturbed the evil mummy which for some reason would chant the name of the 3rd Dynasty Pharaoh Djoser's architect. "Imhotep... Imhotep..."

Run away, run away! Yikes!" As they retreat down the dusty corridor, they discover that the mummy has summoned to "life" the skeletons of his servants and failed tomb robbers alike.

Will Belzoni become a permanent resident of Khafre's tomb? Where is Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) when you need him?

Quoting "Deus": 'Well, it's the big MOC idea we all got at leasst once in our life, but you actually made it (with opening features!).'<- Look at his other creations, this is certainly not his biggest one. Gratz on Motd, it's well deserved!

WOW !!!
I built many a pyramid when I was a kid, but nothing remoerly close to this one. I hope you never take this one apart. It should be on display at a University or museum or someplace similar. Totally brilliant concept and execution, even the tunne system.
5 out of 5 man, 5 out of 5